Pelargonium plant named &#39;KLEPZ17400&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  pelargonium  plant particularly distinguished by bright salmon-colored flowers with a lighter salmon-colored border, and a bushy, round, and upright habit, is disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Switzerland Plant Breeders Rights application filed on May 24, 2017, Application No. 17-3144, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

A Community Plant Variety Rights application was filed on May 31, 2017, File No. 2017/1449.

Genus and species: Pelargonium zonale.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEPZ17400’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of pelargonium, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEPZ17400’. ‘KLEPZ17400’ originated from a hand-pollination in July 2010 in Stuttgart, Germany between the female pelargonium variety ‘KLEPZ08220’, also commercially known as MOONLIGHT ‘Fredo’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,067) and the male pelargonium variety ‘KLEPZ09251’, also commercially known as MOONLIGHT ‘Loki’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,082).

Seeds from the hand-pollination were obtained. The seeds were sown and plants were grown for evaluation. A single plant was selected in June 2011 and subsequently named ‘KLEPZ17400’. In September 2011 ‘KLEPZ17400’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative cuttings. ‘KLEPZ17400’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

1. Bright salmon-colored flowers with a lighter salmon-colored border; and

2. A bushy, round, and upright habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new pelargonium plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows an overall view of the plant. The photograph is of an approximately 8 to 9-week-old plant grown in Stuttgart, Germany under greenhouse conditions in May 2015. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEPZ17400’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on 3-month-old plants in Stuttgart, Germany under greenhouse conditions in April 2018. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Geraniaceae.         -   Botanical.—Pelargonium zonale.         -   Common.—Pelargonium.         -   Designation.—‘KLEPZ17400’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘KLEPZ08220’, also commercially known as             MOONLIGHT ‘Fredo’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,067).         -   Male parent.—‘KLEPZ09251’, also commercially known as             MOONLIGHT ‘Loki’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,082). -   Plant:     -   -   Form.—Bushy and round.         -   Habit.—Upright.         -   Height (from top of soil).—16.0 cm to 18.0 cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—18.0 cm to 19.0 cm.         -   Natural flowering season.—April to October.         -   Propagation type.—Cuttings.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—3 months.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—4 weeks.         -   Root description.—Fine, white, and dense. -   Stems:     -   -   Quantity of stems per plant.—2 to 4.         -   Color.—RHS 166A (Greyed-orange) and RHS 143B (Green).         -   Surface texture.—Sparsely pubescent.         -   Stem form.—Round.         -   Diameter.—0.7 cm to 1.0 cm.         -   Length.—3.0 cm to 12.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—2.0 cm to 2.5 cm.         -   Anthocyanin.—Present. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Shape.—Reniform.         -   Apex.—Round.         -   Base.—Closed.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Surface texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Sparsely             pubescent.         -   Length.—3.2 cm to 5.0 cm.         -   Width.—4.5 to 7.5 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 147A (Yellow-green). Lower             surface: RHS 147B (Yellow-green).         -   Zonation.—Present.         -   Zonation color.—RHS N189A (Greyed-green).         -   Zonation conspicuousness.—Medium.         -   Zonation position.—Middle towards margin.         -   Zonation width.—1.2 cm to 2.0 cm.         -   Petiole.—Length: 4.0 cm to 5.0 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm to             0.4 cm. Color: RHS 144A (Yellow-green). Strength: Moderate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 147A (Yellow-green).             Lower surface: RHS 144D (Yellow-green). -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Lastingness of flowers on the plant.—6 to 8 days.         -   Umbels.—Quantity of umbels per plant: 3 to 5. Length: 5.0 cm             to 5.5 cm. Diameter: 7.5 cm to 9.0 cm.         -   Individual florets of the umbel.—Quantity of florets per             umbel: Greater than 40. Depth: 2.3 cm. Diameter: 5.2 cm.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Cluster shape.—Round.         -   Cluster size.—Length: 1.2 cm to 1.5 cm. Width: 1.6 cm to 2.0             cm.         -   Surface texture.—Sparsely pubescent.         -   Bud.—Height: 0.4 cm. Width: 0.3 cm. Shape: Round. Apex:             Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Color: RHS 143A             (Green). -   Petals:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—7 to 9.         -   Shape.—Spatulate.         -   Apex.—Round.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—2.4 cm to 2.7 cm.         -   Width.—1.4 cm to 1.7 cm.         -   Surface texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Color of lobes.—Upper lobes: Upper surface: RHS 69A             (Red-purple) border about 1.0 cm wide, RHS 41C (Red) of             about 1.4 cm from the middle to center and RHS 96A             (Violet-blue) about 0.3 cm wide. Lower surface: RHS 96A             (Violet-blue). Lower lobes: Upper surface: RHS 69A             (Red-purple) border about 1.0 cm wide, RHS 41C (Red) of             about 1.4 cm from the middle to center and RHS 96A             (Violet-blue) about 0.3 cm wide. Lower surface: RHS 69A             (Red-purple). -   Petaloids:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—1 to 3.         -   Shape.—Mixed.         -   Apex.—Mixed.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—0.3 cm to 2.0 cm.         -   Width.—0.2 cm to 1.1 cm.         -   Surface texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 69A (Red-purple) with RHS 41C             (Red) stripes. Lower surface: RHS 69A (Red-purple) with RHS             38A (Red) stripes. -   Sepals:     -   -   Number per flower.—5.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Surface texture.—Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface:             Moderately pubescent.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 144A (Yellow-green) from the             middle to the tip, RHS 165A (Greyed-orange) at the base to             the middle. Lower surface: RHS 144A (Yellow-green) from the             middle to the tip, RHS 166A (Greyed-orange) at the base to             the middle.         -   Length.—1.0 cm.         -   Width.—0.4 cm. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—1.8 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 166B (Greyed-orange).         -   Surface texture.—Moderately pubescent. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—6.5 cm to 11.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 166A (Greyed-orange).         -   Texture.—Sparsely pubescent.         -   Strength.—Stiff.         -   Anthocyanins.—Present. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: 3 to 5. Anther length: 0.2 cm.             Filament length: 0.6 cm. Filament color: RHS 69A             (Red-purple) with RHS 45A (Red) tips. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: RHS 169A (Greyed-orange).         -   Pistils.—Number: 1. Stigma color: RHS 47B (Red). Style             length: 0.3 cm. Style color: RHS 47B (Red). Ovary             arrangement: Central. Ovary color: RHS 59A (Red-purple).             Ovary diameter: 0.2 cm. Ovary length: 0.6 cm. -   Fruit and seed set: None observed. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEPZ17400’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parential Lines Female parent Male Parent Characteristics ‘KLEPZ17400’ ‘KLEPZ08220’ ‘KLEPZ09251’ Leaf zonation Medium Weak Very strong Medium vigor, Growth and habit Mounding, and Very compact Medium, upright, well-branched dominant branches

‘KLEPZ17400’ can be compared to the commercial variety ‘Savannah Light Salmon’ (patent status unknown). Differences between the two varieties are described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Commerical line Characteristics ‘KLEPZ17400’ Savannah Light Salmon Leaf color Dark-green Green Flower Color Bright-salmon with Light salmon light salmon border 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of pelargonium plant named ‘KLEPZ17400’ as illustrated and described herein. 